World History (Pocket Guides) [Paperback]

Philip Wilkinson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 28, 1996 | Age Level: 6 and up | Series: Pocket Guides

A pocket sized but complete history of world events.

Product Details

• Reading level: Ages 6 and up
  
• Paperback: 160 pages
• Publisher: DK CHILDREN; 1ST edition (March 28, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789406039
• ISBN-13: 978-0789406033
• Product Dimensions: 4.9 x 3.8 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,527,981 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars World History in a pill; can cause side effects, February 18, 2011

By 

Anibal Madeira (Lisboa Portugal) - See all my reviews

This review is from: World History (Pocket Guides) (Paperback)

When they call this pocket guide they aren't lying. And it's not trenchcoat pocket; it's tight denin pants pocket!

Before you buy this book, please watch its size in the description. Usually that wouldn't be detrimental - it probably would be an advantage! But DK books profit a lot by the fabulous drawings, art work and photographs that can show something instead of telling it. With drawings one inch high you get the feeling of wanting to smack someone. Specially because some are quite good; it even has drawings from Angus McBride, Peter Dennis, Richard Hook, among many others!

Divided by large chronological periods, it starts with a comparative table with the most important events, inventions, art and architecture achievements of the period, followed by one or two page chapters with some highlights of the subject being dealt with.

In such a work you can't get in details, and if you just highlight some events you can lead to terribly wrong conclusions and omissions. For example, by the WW II battles mentioned it almost seems that it was a walk in the park (all allied victories); also the wars of French Religion looks like a Huguenot beat up. The extremely important ancient jewish civilization isn't even mentioned although they are a reference for western moral values among many other cultural and political achievements (but the author remembered and had space for the Hopewell civilization...meaning no disrespect to that tribe, it's like wanting a section on this book about my Lusitanian "ancestors"; even the Romans had only 2 pages)!

This edition ends its history in 1996. I believe that a new updated edition (one inch bigger and revising many contents) would greatly improve this work. But as it is it can be useful as a short and quick reference guide and to give someone without world history knowledge a "crash course" that might shed some light. But fast medicines might bring side effects.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Handy book to own, September 25, 2009

By 

Kristy "Kristy" (Alabama) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: World History (Pocket Guides) (Paperback)

This book gives a convenient "overview" of history. It doesn't go into any details, really, but it's value stems from being a portable and somewhat complete timeline of history. It helps to place things in context if you have trouble remembering what happened when. For the price, it can't be beat.